The Chinese Zodiac

The Chinese zodiac, also known as Eastern astrology, is another type of astrology that came into being thousands of years ago in China. Unlike astrology, the Chinese zodiac does not necessarily keep an eye on the positions of the stars and planets. Instead, it pays attention to the Chinese Lunar Calendar, which keeps track of the moon's cycles. In the Chinese calender, the beginning of a new year can fall anywhere from late January to early February. But the Chinese zodiac gets much more in-depth. It has ties with Chinese philosophy, the wu xing teachings, yin and yang, the five major planets, the 10 Heavenly Stems, and the 12 Earthly Branches.

These are the animals of the twelve-year cycle:

Rat
Element: Water
Polarity: Yang
Season: Winter
Month: December
Hours: 11 PM - 1 AM
Key phrase: I rule.
Years: 1900 (Metal), 1912 (Water), 1924 (Wood), 1936 (Fire), 1948 (Earth), 1960 (Metal), 1972 (Water), 1984 (Wood), 1996 (Fire), 2008 (Earth), 2020 (Metal)
• Witty
• Shrewd
• Charming
• Crafty
• Greedy
• Calculating

Ox
Element: Water
Polarity: Yin
Season: Winter
Month: January
Hours: 1 AM - 3 AM
Years: 1901 (Metal), 1913 (Water), 1925 (Wood), 1937 (Fire), 1949 (Earth), 1961 (Metal), 1973 (Water), 1985 (Wood), 1997 (Fire), 2009 (Earth), 2021 (Metal)
Key phrase: I endure.
• Ambitious
• Determined
• Hardworking
• Stern
• Stubborn
• Intolerant

Tiger
Element: Wood
Polarity: Yang
Season: Spring
Month: February
Hours: 3 AM - 5 AM
Years: 1902 (Water), 1914 (Wood), 1926 (Fire), 1938 (Earth), 1950 (Metal), 1962 (Water), 1974 (Wood), 1986 (Fire), 1998 (Earth), 2010 (Metal), 2022 (Water)
Key phrase: I act.
• Passionate
• Enthusiastic
• Courageous
• Impulsive
• Impatient
• Outspoken

Rabbit
Element: Wood
Polarity: Yin
Season: Spring
Month: March
Hours: 5 AM - 7 AM
Years: 1903 (Water), 1915 (Wood), 1927 (Fire), 1939 (Earth), 1951 (Metal), 1963 (Water), 1975 (Wood), 1987 (Fire), 1999 (Earth), 2011 (Metal), 2023 (Water)
Key phrase: I soothe.
• Soft-spoken
• Sympathetic
• Peace-loving
• Sensitive
• Avoidant
• Obsessive

Dragon
Element: Wood
Polarity: Yang
Season: Spring
Month: April
Hours: 7 AM - 9 AM
Years: 1904 (Wood), 1916 (Fire), 1928 (Earth), 1940 (Metal), 1952 (Water), 1964 (Wood), 1976 (Fire), 1988 (Earth), 2000 (Metal), 2012 (Water), 2024 (Wood)
Key phrase: I reign.
• Brave
• Zealous
• Enterprising
• Proud
• Forceful
• Hot-tempered

Snake
Element: Fire
Polarity: Yin
Season: Summer
Month: May
Hours: 9 AM - 11 AM
Years: 1905 (Wood), 1917 (Fire), 1929 (Earth), 1941 (Metal), 1953 (Water), 1965 (Wood), 1977 (Fire), 1989 (Earth), 2001 (Metal), 2013 (Water), 2025 (Wood)
Key phrase: I sense.
• Wise
• Discerning
• Philosophical
• Vain
• Vicious
• Cunning

Horse
Element: Fire
Polarity: Yang
Season: Summer
Month: June
Hours: 11 AM - 1 PM
Years: 1906 (Fire), 1918 (Earth), 1930 (Metal), 1942 (Water), 1954 (Wood), 1966 (Fire), 1978 (Earth), 1990 (Metal), 2002 (Water), 2014 (Wood), 2026 (Fire)
Key phrase: I demand.
• Carefree
• Independent
• Freedom-loving
• Aloof
• Selfish
• Defiant

Sheep
Element: Fire
Polarity: Yin
Season: Summer
Month: July
Hours: 1 PM - 3 PM
Years: 1907 (Fire), 1919 (Earth), 1931 (Metal), 1943 (Water), 1955 (Wood), 1967 (Fire), 1979 (Earth), 1991 (Metal), 2003 (Water), 2015 (Wood), 2027 (Fire)
Key phrase: I imagine.
• Artistic
• Imaginative
• Compassionate
• Insecure
• Dependent
• Whimsical

Monkey
Element: Metal
Polarity: Yang
Season: Autumn
Month: August
Hours: 3 PM - 5 PM
Years: 1908 (Earth), 1920 (Metal), 1932 (Water), 1944 (Wood), 1956 (Fire), 1968 (Earth), 1980 (Metal), 1992 (Water), 2004 (Wood), 2016 (Fire), 2028 (Earth)
Key phrase: I plan.
• Curious
• Innovative
• Humorous
• Sneaky
• Intrusive
• Obnoxious

Rooster
Element: Metal
Polarity: Yin
Season: Autumn
Month: September
Hours: 5 PM - 7 PM
Years: 1909 (Earth), 1921 (Metal), 1933 (Water), 1945 (Wood), 1957 (Fire), 1969 (Earth), 1981 (Metal), 1993 (Water), 2005 (Wood), 2017 (Fire), 2029 (Earth)
Key phrase: I prevail.
• Spirited
• Resilient
• Straightforward
• Loud
• Critical
• Arrogant

Dog
Element: Metal
Polarity: Yang
Season: Autumn
Month: October
Hours: 7 PM - 9 PM
Years: 1910 (Metal), 1922 (Water), 1934 (Wood), 1946 (Fire), 1958 (Earth), 1970 (Metal), 1982 (Water), 1994 (Wood), 2006 (Fire), 2018 (Earth), 2030 (Metal)
Key phrase: I remain.
• Fair
• Loyal
• Honest
• Nosy
• Cynical
• Worrying

Pig
Element: Water
Polarity: Yin
Season: Winter
Month: November
Hours: 9 PM - 11 PM
Years: 1911 (Metal), 1923 (Water), 1935 (Wood), 1947 (Fire), 1959 (Earth), 1971 (Metal), 1983 (Water), 1995 (Wood), 2007 (Fire), 2019 (Earth), 2031 (Metal)
Key phrase: I civilize.
• Caring
• Helpful
• Generous
• Lazy
• Oblivious
• Overindulgent